Torch for destroying insects.



PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

s. M. HESS. v TORCH FOR DBSTROYING 'INSEGTS.

V APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1902. 'NOMODEL.

Wifgzsse THE Norms pzvzns cu, vnorournm WASHINGTON. n c.

UNITED. STATES latented May 12, 1903.

SILAS'M. Hess, OF BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TORCH FORDESTR-OYING INSECTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,628, dated May 12,1903. Application filed May 22, 1902- SerlalNo-108,566. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SILAs'M; HESS, a citizen of the United States,residing'at Bloomsburg, in the county of Columbia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Torch for DestroyingInsects,&c. ,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to torches, and particularly to'thatclass" intended. for the destruction of insects, larvae, and the likeupon fruit-trees, shrubbery, &c.

The object of the invention is to provide a torch of this characterwhich shall be simple of construction, efficient and durable in use, andthat shall be capable of absorbing and retaining a large amount ofinflammable material for the purposedesigned.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the-same consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts of a torch for destroying insects,&c., as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts, thereis illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable ofcarrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that theelementstherein exhibited may be varied or ohangedasto shape,proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from thespirit'thereof, and in these drawings i j r Figure 1 is a view inelevation of acage or holder for the absorbent material for containingthe inflammable material used for burning insects and the like. Fig. 2is a similar view showing the cage with the absorbent materialthereinand the handle or staff associated therewith.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates generally the cage, andZthefstaffpr handle.

The cage in-this instance is sho'wn as being constructedof three piecesof wire bent centrally of their length to present a substantiallyelliptical cage, the straight portions of the wires being held assembledby a binder 3, spirally coiled thereabout. While the said binder will bethoroughly efficient for hold ing the wires assembledfit is to be understood that the same may be otherwise assembled, as by thimbles or by"being brazed together, and still be withinthe scope of the invention. Atthe crest of the bend one of the wiresis provided with an eye 4, throughwhich the bends of the other wires are passed,

as clearly shown in both of the figures, this arrangement being adoptedon account of its simplicity and the ease with which such a cage can beconstructed. The shank 5,formed by the assembled straight portions ofthe wires, is of such length as to remove possibility of the flame fromreaching the staff 2, which, as usual, will be constructed of wood andin a plurality of telescopic or readily-assembled sections 6 and 7, ofwhich there may be any preferred number.

The absorbent 8 for the coal-oil or other inflammable substance employedis composed of a refractory substance, preferably asbestos reduced topulp, and then disposed within the cage. In the use of the device theasbestos pulp will be saturated with coal-oil or the likeand whenignited will burn for a considerable period of time, the oil from theinterior of the asbestos being gradually fed to the exterior, as will bereadily understood.

With a torch such as described all insect life when developed'or inembryo will readily and effectively be destroyed without danger to theoperator of being burned, inasmuch as the asbestos pulp will occlude theoil and only yield it up as requisite.

-By reason of the elliptical shape of the cage the flames from thejoilwill burn to a point which may thus readily be directed against theinsects to be destroyed, thereby obviating the danger of burningunnecessary portions of the tree or shrub upon which such insects mayhave harbored.

Having thus fullyjdescribed my invention, what I claim as new,'anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-. f.

A torch for destroying insects, comprising a cage and a body ofabsorbent refractory material held therein, the cage being composed of aplurality of wires bent upon themselves and formed into a fusiformstructure terminating in an elongated shank formed by straightcontinuations of the cage members, my own I have hereto affixed mysignature in the crest of one of the members being prothe presence oftwo Witnesses. vided with an eye in which are disposed the r "1 crestsof the other members, a binder for as- SILAS HEDS' 5 sembling the shankmembers, and a handle Witnesses:

associated with the shank. GEO. W. HESS,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as JOHN L. WOODS.

